The South Korean tech firm LG (the other one being Samsung) was present at the MWC 2015, but not for reasons tech fanatics were expecting. The company showcased its two 'Watch Urbane' smartwatches for the first time. While the company was already being rumored to be working on the successor of its G Watch R, this was the first time the company unveiled them at a public event.
While both smartwatches belong to the same brand name, one of the Watch Urbane smartwatches features an LTE modem, which becomes the first ever smartwatch to feature such a form of connectivity. While Intel has stated that it was working on rolling out a 3G modem specifically catered to wearables, LG has taken ten paces forward and rolled out a higher wireless connectivity device.
Currently, the major perk of using LG's offerings will be its cellular connectivity. With this form of connectivity, users will be able to perform functions that they normally perform while in possession of a smartphone, which ranges from making VoIP and regular calls as well as checking emails and other notifications. In addition, the LTE connectivity wearable will also feature a 'hold walkie-talkie-style conversation' feature, which will allow for the conversing of multiple individuals without having a smartphone connected.
Furthermore, the smartwatch can also be used as a performance tracker and can check the wearer's pulse, heart beat and other important vitals while they are immersed in physical activities such as running and exercising. According to The Verge, the form factor of the Watch Urbane is extremely bulky, and features a three button interface. It also features a built-in voice translator.
Currently, pricing details of the wearable remain elusive and so far, the LTE variant has only been confirmed in the region of South Korea. It is expected that the smartwatch will be released in a couple of months but LG has currently not commented of its price. More details will definitely emerge once the device nears its launch date.
